Media Curation

Okay, maybe you have been there, just like me.  You had a weekend away or it was a holiday and you ate badly, then you got really busy when you got home and you continued to eat badly, a weekend became a week, then you got tired, kept eating junk and now you don’t even really feel like having vegetables at all, because, well, you are out of the habit and you crave, well, a few more carbs.

So, if you have been there, like me, you have probably forced a salad and then committed to vegetables and fasted from sweets for a little time just to reset your diet and get on a healthy path. 

Many say that the Pandemic was a media-junk food binge for many of us.  We have just gotten used to constant news, following several shows at once, more tv, more screen and maybe less literature, less reflection, or even less quiet and relationships. 

Some have suggested that just as we should use a food pyramid to shape our food consumption, we need a wisdom pyramid to shape our media consumption.  Check out this book Review of  Brett McCrackin’s book, The Wisdom Pyramid: Feed Your Soul in a Post-Truth World.

I found this insight from the book review to be helpful:

This constant rush of newness only serves to accelerate a feedback loop of deeper anxiety and compulsive clicking. And the end result, says McCracken, is a turn toward self-centeredness, where we tend to focus on “looking within” and “finding our truth” rather than submitting to realities outside of ourselves. When we do find a few moments of solace, we are quickly distracted by yet another breaking-news notification.”

Paul and Jesus have way more to say about what we think about than what we eat.  And yet, I find myself thinking an awful lot about what I eat as I mindlessly read my phone stuffing food in my mouth. 

Followers of Christ must be thoughtful about what comes into our minds. Paul teaches us directly about this:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Philippians 4:8

Jesus calls us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.  The first three of those--heart, soul and mind—are internal areas that are about what we think, how we feel, what we choose to love.

Fundamental to growing in our faith is to think about the right things.  Do a little inventory for yourself:

·      How many hours a week do you read scripture or listen to teaching about your faith?

·      How many hours a week do you consume social media?

·      How many hours a week do you consume news media?

·      How often do you check social or news media

·      How many hours a week do you watch television shows or sports?

·      How many hours a week do you spend reading a book

·      How many hours a week do you spend with friends?

·      How many hours a week do you spend in service to the local community?

·      How many hours a week do you spend exercising?

·      How many hours a week you spend outdoors?

·      How is this media diet working for you?

Please don’t feel shame here. I personally have ways I would like to improve my mental diet.  Is there a natural, easy next step you can take towards a healthier mental intake? 

Have you tried our 21 Day Homecoming Challenge?  For 21 Days, focus your prayer, fast from a form of media and open yourself up to God’s work in your life financially. 

-Marc